Cotton picker spindle slat fastening means



April 10, 1951 1 D. RUST 2,548,069

COTTON PICKER SPINDLE SLAT FASTENING MEANS Filed April 2, 1946 s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

April 10, 1951 1 D, RUST 2,548,069

COTTON PICKER SPINDLE SLAT FASTENING MEANS Filed April 2. 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENToR Jhn D. Rus,

' ATTORNEY.

PY 10, 1951 J. D. RUST 2,548,069

COTTON PICKER SPINDLE SLAT FASTENING MEANS Filed April 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'D :1.15. DE. 1:14.

45 2,271 la@ HI l Il l s 9 4 55 3159 1555599 44,61, zl 55Z9 7U/ 61 as naam 3 E ff a ez /3 -INVENTOR., 170101,17. Hasi, BY

'ATTONEY Patented Apr. 10, 1951 Unirse stares este i @FFME COTTON PICKER SPINDLEv SLAT FASTENING MEANS 18 Claims.

t My invention relates to cotton picking ma- `lchi'nes in :general and more particularlyto the kind disclosed in United States Patents No. Re.

19,411, issued January 1, v1935;.l`rlo. 1,894,198, issue'dJanuary l0, 1933; No.72,023,491,issued Decernber 10, 1935; No. 2,058,513, issued October 27, 19`36;'1\To. 2,058,514, issued Qctoberg'l, 1935;*1510. 2,085,046, issued June 29, 1937; and No. 2,162,750, issued'JuneZO, I1939.

The .present invention has for its object to provide an improved Vhinge for the spindle slats which hinge will serve lseveral purposes, namely, iirst to pivot the slats, second, vto determine the angle of the spindles when in the picking position, third, .to determine the stripping angle of thespindlesjfourth, toact as a guidefor the upper and lower spindle moistening rings, Fifth, at

endsftle invention furtherresides in th'ejn'ovel "details of construction, ompnations and. arrangements'ofpartsf all of which will be rst fully described hereinafter and l'then be specifically lpoin'tedout in the'appended claims, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings in-which: Fig. 1 is a detail top plan'view lustra'ting how my improved hinges operate 'to determine the stripping angle of the spindles andhow'the hinges act in cooperation with'the spindle lmoistening device. u

Fig.- 2 is'a detail t'p planview showing how the hinges cooperatewithone anotherto determine the position of the spindles 'at the mid-,picking Tposition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail verticarseeticn on 'the line 3--3'0f Fig. 4.

hFig. '4 is atop planview ofthe hinge and sla't shown in Fig. 3. l l y Fig.-5`is'a detailperspectivcview of a portion vvof Vthe hinge of theiirst embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6'is a perspective view of one'of the keys.

Fig. 7 is va top -plan view of a modiiied construction nof hinge, a hinge-locking key being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is aside elevation "of the hinge shown in Fig. 7.

" Figleisa sideevauon of the' key used with the hinge'of'Fig. 8.

lil

2 Fig. 10is a topvplan View of the key. Fig. lllis a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the second embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a plan View, parts being broken away,

`of a cotton picking machine embodying my invention. v Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing a further modiiication of my invention.

Fig. 1 4'is -a central `vertical longitudinal section of thel embodiment shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detail vertical cross section on the line |5-l 5 oi Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a detail section on the line lli-I6 of Fig. 14.

Referring'now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the gures, l indicates a Rustcotton pickingmachine, 2 and 3 the conveyor shafts and 4 the sprockets about which the chains 5 pass which chains carry pins to which the hinges of the slats arepivoted. All the above numbered parts` are well known and per se are not of the present invention.

The present application, which involves two embodiments of my invention, is a continuation inpart -of an application led by me on March 29, 1944, Serial No. 528,586-, now Pat. No. 2,440,450.

The viirst form of my invention is illustrated on vSheet -1 of the drawings by reference to which it will be seen that 'l indicates the picking spindles each of which has an operating roller B. The spindles are mounted in slats the construction of which per se is not claimed herein but constitute `the subject matter of my patent aforesaid. Briefly then' each slat includes a retaining clip e over the wood bearing strip i3, ielts l L12 and liber strips I3. The rear woodbearing block is indicated by ill and the metal housing therefor is indicated 'by Il. A ber strip 43 and felt 3l are also provided for the 'rear spindle'bearing. The retaining clip t! includes the transverse plate I5 which has an upstanding lug 32.

It indicates the top flanges of an end ribwhicli are spaced from the plate l5 to form a hingeleg-receiving channel.

A xed rail I8 or track-backing bar i8 mounted on vertical supports i2 braces the track I9, 20, 2|

-on which the spindle rollers 8 'run to turn the Vbeing of the same construction only one end of-a -slat has beenshown with its hinge.

Each hinge comprises a rectangular plate 22 having a hole 23 to receive a hinge pin or rivet 6, an offset portion 24 bent down as at 25 and forwardly to provide a leg 26 which lies in a plane parallel to that containing the plate 22 but to one side of the same a distance such that when the several hinges are positioned as shown in Fig. 2 the distance between adjacent spindles 'I will equal the dista-nce between adjacent pins 6. The ofset portion 24 is so shaped (see Fig. 2) that the portion 24 of one hinge will lie against the curved part of plate 22 of the neXt adjacent plate and the plates 22 are of such width that when the spindles are passing through the stripping mechanism (not showin) and the moistening device (35, Fig. 1) the side edges of one plate 22 will lie parallelly against the adjacent side edges of adjacent plates thus determining the picking and doing etc. positions, respectively, of the spindles.

Each leg 26 has a slot 27 and a shallow stop rib 28, The slot 2'! receives the tongue 3U of the key 29 that ts between the leg 26 and the plate I and by reason of the stop 28 engaging the flanges I6, prevents the hinge from being accidentally withdrawn after the parts have been assembled as shown in Fig. 3. The key 29 has a flange 3i that rises above the stop 28 so that by forcing the tongue 30 down below the level of the bottom face of the leg 26, the key may be driven or pulled out by force applied to ange 3 I.

In Fig. 1 a set of moistener rings 35 is positioned adjacent the spindle slats in such a manner that the rows of spindles project between the rings and serve to support the intermediate rings of the series at one point, the hinge plates 22 cooperating by holding the top and bottom rings in their proper path at the same point of a triangular support, the entire set of rings being held at the other two points of support by the discs 34 on the shafts 33. The cooperating support of the hinge plates and the rows of spindles may be more clearly seen in Fig. 16 of my Patent No. 2,440,450, aforesaid.

The second embodiment of my invention includes matter not specifically shown and described in my original application aforesaid. This second form of my invention does not differ in principle from the original form and those parts which correspond in purpose and function to like parts in the rst illustrated form bear the r same reference number plus the index letter a and need not be re-described here.

The leg 26a of the hinge (Figs. 7, 8 and 11) differs from the leg 26 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) in that in place of the slot 21 a boss 36 is stamped in the leg, forming in the process, a recess 21a. The top ange I6a of the rib instead of being formed by bending over the sides of the metal and leaving a space as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is solid across save for a hole 38 to receive the boss 36 as clearly shown in Fig. l1.

The key 29a diiers from the key 29 in that it is formed of thinner metal and has two transverse depressions 39 and 40 bent into it and the tongue 30a is bent to form a lug 4I to fit within the recess 21a when the parts are assembled. The portions 39 and 40 bear upon the ends of the slats when the key 29a is driven into place. The metal of which key 29a is made is suiciently springy and the lug 4I is so shaped that by striking the flange 3la in a direction from right to left in Fig. 1l, the key may be driven out without having to hold down the tongue 30e with a suitable tool.

One or more of the hinge plates 22 carries a bracket 44 with a lug 45 to operate the moistening mechanism. As the moistenihg mechanism operating mechanism forms no part of the present invention it has not been illustrated in the accompanying drawings but see my patent aforesaid.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 to 16, the retainer clip tongue plate shown at l5 in Fig. 3 is omitted and the clip is formed with a top 44 that lies over the side flanges 16h, the rear edge 44z of the top 44 being ared to facilitate passage of the boss 36h as the leg 2Gb is inserted. The top 44 is also provided with a slot 9S to receive the boss 36b and with a hole 95' to line up with a hole 26y in the leg 2Gb, the holes 9Y and 265 lying above the tongue h in the locking key 29h.

The end of the leg 2Eb is further tapered as at 26X to aid in the introduction of the leg into the space below the top 44 and also facilitate the introduction of the key 29h. The end of the tongue 30b in this embodiment is squared 01T so as to prevent any possibility of the end working out of the recess 21b accidentally.

In Figs. 13 to 16 those parts which correspond to like parts in the preceding figures bear the same reference number plus the index letter b so repetition of their description is not necessary here.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought the construction, operation and advantage of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a cotton picking machine, means for releasably connecting a spindle-carrying slat having an end passage to endless conveyor elements, said means including a hinge element and a locking key cooperating in said passage for detachably connecting the conveyor elements and slats, each of said hinge elements comprising a plate with a pivot-aperture and parallel sides, a leg offset from said plate and lying in a plane parallel to but spaced from said plate, said leg hav ing a lug and a recess intermediate its ends, said passage having a wall with a slot to receive said lug; said locking key being insertable in said passage between said leg and the inner wall of said passage and having a springy tongue with a lug to engage in the recess of said leg to retain the leg in said passage.

2. In a cotton picking machine, means for releasably connecting spindle-carrying slats each having an end passage to conveyor chains, said means including a hinge element having a portion provided with a stop lug and with a slot, said portion being capable of being passed through said passage, said hinge including a second portion bent back over the rst portion and having provision for attachment to a conveyor chain; and a locking key insertable in said passage and having a tongue with a portion to snap into said slot for purposes described.

3. In a cotton picking machine, means for detachably connecting spindle-carrying slats to conveyor chains, said slats each having an end passage, a hinge element having a portion provided with a stop lug and with a slot, said portion being capable of being passed through said passage, said hinge element including a second portion bent back over the rst portion and having provision through the medium of which it may be attached to the conveyor chain; and a locking key insertable in said passage and having a tongue to snap into said slot for purposes described, and a bracket with a lug carried by one of the hinge elements for purposes described.

4. In a cotton picking machine, means for connecting spindle-carrying slats each having end passages to upper and lower endless carrying members, said means including hinge elements pivotally secured to the carrying members and having a snap-on connection to the slats, said hinge elements each including a plate having a bent-back portion constituting a leg spaced from the plate, said leg being adapted to be passed into said passage,and a locking key insertable in said passage and having means to engage the slat and the leg and to hold the leg against being moved in one longitudinal direction, the bend between the plate and the leg serving to prevent legmovement in the opposite direction.

5. In a cotton picking machine, means for connecting spindle-carrying slats, having end passages, to endless carrier elements, said means including a hinge element having a plate portion having a hole for a pivot pin and having a leg to lie in said passage and having a stop to engage a part of the slat to prevent leg movement in one direction, and having a tongue receiving slot; a locking key insertable in said passage in a direction the reverse of that of said leg, said tongue adapted to spring into said slot to hold the leg against being withdrawn.

6. In a cotton picking machine, means for connecting spindle-carrying slats, having transverse end passages, to an endless carrier, said means including hinge elements, each of said hinge elements comprising a plate with a pivot-aperture and parallel sides, a leg offset from said plate and lying in a plane parallel to but spaced from said plate, said leg having a lug and a recess intermediate its ends, said passage having a wall with a slot to receive said lug, and a locking key insertable in said passage between said leg and the inner wall of said passage and having a springy tongue with a lug to engage in the recess of said leg to retain the leg in said passage.

'7. In a cotton picking machine, means for connecting spindle-carrying slats to an endless conveyor, said means including snap-on hinge elements, means for rigidly holding said elements on the top and bottom ends respectively of said slats and having provisions for pivotal connections to Y the endless conveyor, said hinge elements each having a rectangular plate with a pivot hole and a rounded corner whose center of curvature is that of said hole, said elements having yla leg, means cooperative with said legs and with the slats for releasably locking said leg to said slat,

8. In a cotton picking machine, means for connecting spindle-carrying slats to an endless conveyor, said means including snap-on hinge elements, means for rigidly holding said elements on the top and bottom ends 4respectively of said slats and having provisions for pivotal connections Yto the endless conveyor, said hinge elements each having a rectangular plate with a pivot hole and a rounded corner whose center of curvature is that cf said hole, said elements having a leg, means cooperative with said legs and with the slats for releasably locking said leg to said slat, means for mounting said'hinged slats on the endless conveyor at points equal to the distance between the centers of said pivot holes of adjacent hinges, all being arranged so that the several slats will be held, by contact between adjacent hinge plates, in the desired picking and dofng positions.

9. In a cotton picking machine, spindle-carrying slats, each slat having an end passage, a hinge element having a portion provided with a stop lugv and with a slot, said portion being capable of being passed through said passage, said hinge including a second portion bent back over the rst portion and having provision for attachment to conveyor elements; and a locking key insert-- able in said passage and having a tongue to snap into said slot for purposes described.

10. In a cotton picking machine, spindle-carrying slats, each slat having an end passage, a hinge element having a portion provided with a stop lug and with a slot, said portion being capable of being passed through said passage, said hinge in-` cluding a second portionbent back over the rst portion and having vprovision for attachment to endless conveyors; and a locking key insertable in said passage and having a tongue to snap into said slot for purposes described, and a bracket with a lug carried by one of the hinge elements for purposes described.

l1. In a cotton picking machine, means releasably connecting spindle-carrying slats to endless carriers, said slats having an end passage, said means including a hinge element and a locking key cooperating in said passage for detachably connecting the hinge element and a slat, said hinge element comprising a plate with a pivotaperture and parallel sides, a leg oiTsetv from said plate and lying in a plane parallel to but spaced from said plate, said leg having a lug and a recess intermediate its ends, said passage having a Wall with a slot to receive said lug; and a locking key insertable in said passage between said leg and the inner wall of said passage and having a springy tongue with a lug to engage in the recess of said leg to retain the leg in said passage, said Wall and said leg having aligning holes for access to said tongue by a suitable tongue-releasing tool.

12. In a cotton picking machine, means for releasably connecting spindle-carrying slats to endless carrier elements, said slats each having an end passage, said means including a hinge element having a plate portion with a hole for a pivot pin and having a leg to lie in said passage and having a stop to engage a part of the slat to prevent leg movement in one direction, and hav- `ing a tong-ue receiving slot; a locking key insertable in said passage in a direction the reverse of that of said leg, said tongue adapted to spring into said slot to hold the leg against being withdrawn, and means by which access to said tongue 'may be had by a suitable tongue-releasing tool.

13. Means for connecting spindle-carrying slats to conveyor chains, said means including hinge elements adapted for connection to the chains and slats, said elements each including a at plate having a portion bent back upon itself and constituting a leg spaced from the plate for engaging the slat, the slat having a passage to receive said leg, and a releasable locking key cooperatively engaging with said leg and the slat for holding the leg to the slat.

14. Means for connecting spindle-carrying slats to conveyor chains, said means including hinge elements adapted for connection to the chains and slats, said elements each including a flat plate having a bent-back portion constituting a leg spaced from the plate for engaging the slat, the slat having a passage to receive said leg, and a releasable locking key cooperating with said leg and the slat for holding the leg to the slat, said locking key including a springy tongue and said leg having a recess to be cooperatively en- '7 gaged by said tongue when said key is ina locking position.

15. Means for connecting a spindle-carrying slat to conveyor chains, the slat having a passage at each end, said means including hinge elements, each hinge element including a at plate adapted for connection to a chain and having a portion bent back upon itself and constituting a leg spaced from the plate and adapted to enter a slat passage, and means for locking saidlegs in said passages.

16. Means for connecting a spindle-carrying Slat to conveyor chains, the Slat having a passage at each end, said means including hinge elements, each hinge element including a flat plate adapted for connection to a chain and having a bent-back portion constituting a leg spaced from the plate and adapted to enter a slat passage, and means for locking said legs in said passages, said locking means including a locking key insertable in said slat passages between said legs and the slat and having means to effect a locking action between said legs and said slat.

17. Means for releasably securing a spindlecarrying slat of a cotton picking machine to a conveyor chain of the same, the slat having a passage at one end, said means including a hinge eleF ment comprising a rectangular plate having a pivot hole and a rounded corner whose center of curvature is that of said hole, said hinge element having a leg, to enter said passage, and having means to eiect a locking engagement with the leg and the slat.

18. Means for releasably securing spindle-carrying slats to chain members, the slats having a transverse passage at their ends, said means including hinge elements, each comprising a rectangular plate with a pivot hole and a rounded corner whose center of curvature is that of the hole, said element having a leg, means cooperating with said leg and with the slat for releasably locking said leg to said slat, the distance between the centers of the pivot holes of adjacent hinge elements being equal to the center-to-center length of a chain link, by virtue of which the several slats will be held, by contact between adjacent hinge plates, in the desired picking and doffing positions.

JOHN D. RUST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,555 Pratt Oct. 23, 1888 '774,182 Johnston Nov. 8, 1904 2,058,513 Rust et al Oct. Z7, 1936 

